Department for Transport

*No heading*

lord patten: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Callanan on 28 June (HL9), whether the programme of refurbishment of trains between Waterloo and Exeter will include works on the air conditioning systems of the rolling stock to avoid failure through overheating during periods of temperatures above 28⁰C.

lord callanan: This is a matter for the Train Operating Company.

*No heading*

marquess of lothian: Her Majesty's Government how many of the projects to tackle congestion and to improve the UK's strategic road network announced in the 2014 Road Investment Strategy have been delayed or cancelled; and why.

lord callanan: One scheme has been cancelled following the public consultation. The A27 Chichester Bypass scheme in West Sussex was dependent on local support and financial contribution of the authorities and there was no clear consensus on the best way forward. Three schemes in construction have delays to their "open to traffic" dates. The A1 Leeming to Barton scheme in North Yorkshire has been delayed following extensive archaeological finds. The A21 Tonbridge to Pembury scheme in Kent has been delayed due to the need for remedial action to deal with unforeseen large volumes of hazardous waste. The A30 Temple to Carblake scheme is being delivered by Cornwall County Council and has been delayed due to changes in traffic management to reduce disruption during peak summer months.

*No heading*

marquess of lothian: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to promote best practice in the management of road verges in order to protect endangered species of flora in the UK.

lord callanan: The Department for Transport through the UK Roads Liaison Group promotes the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice. This Code provides best practice and guidance for highway authorities to manage and maintain the local highways for which they are responsible, including providing advice on a range of issues, such as managing road verges to help protect endangered species of flora.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government what progress is being made to electrify the raillines to South Wales.

lord callanan: Electrification to Cardiff is scheduled for completion in December 2018.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to simplify rail ticketing for the benefit of passengers.

lord callanan: The Department for Transport, through the Action Plan for Information on Rail Fares and Ticketing Information, is working with industry and other stakeholders to make it easier for passengers to choose the right fares for them. An interim report on delivery against this plan will be published in the forthcoming Office of Rail and Road (ORR) Annual Consumer Report.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the operation of the East Coast Main Line since the award of the new contract in 2014.

lord callanan: Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) is fulfilling its obligations to both the government and passengers alike. VTEC is delivering real passenger improvements, including refurbishing their current fleet, increasing service frequency and introducing new destinations. VTEC operate 15% more services today than in 2016.Passenger satisfaction is increasing - VTEC topped the independent National Rail Passenger Survey in Autumn 2017 for long distance operators, at 91% satisfaction.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government what projects to electrify rail lines in England are currently subject to delays in (1) commencement, and (2)completion, of works.

lord callanan: Network Rail published an update to its Enhancement Delivery Plan on 30 June 2017. This sets out the outputs, scope and milestones for the projects, including electrification schemes, which Network Rail is committed to deliver. Each project entry includes a milestones table setting out the programme for a project’s delivery.

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs and benefits of electrifying the railway line between Crewe and Holyhead.

lord callanan: The Government has made no such assessment. We continue to work with the rail industry, the Welsh Government and regional stakeholders, including the North Wales and Mersey Dee Rail Task Force and Transport for the North, to see what more can be accomplished to deliver better journeys for passengers and freight customers in this corridor.

*No heading*

lord berkeley: Her Majesty's Government whether, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/995 concerning the technical specification for interoperability relating to the operation and traffic management subsystem of the rail system in the EU, they notified the Commission by 1 July of their national implementation plan; if not, when they expect to do so; and whether they will place a copy of that plan in the Library of the House.

lord callanan: The Department for Transport has prepared a national implementation plan for this specification but has not yet notified the Commission. It intends to do this as soon as possible, and to place copies in the Library of the House.

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to convert Regulation (EU) 788/2014 relating to ship inspections into UK law; and, if so, which UK body will assume the Commission's role in identifying, assessing and punishing infringements by recognised organisations entrusted with the inspection, survey and certification of ships flying the Union Jack.

lord callanan: Regulation (EU) 788/2014 will be will be converted into UK Domestic Law as part of the repeal bill. It may then be appropriate to make some adjustments to this Regulation. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be responsible for the enforcement of this Regulation.

*No heading*

baroness gardner of parkes: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to provide for segregated cycle lanes to be made accessible to (1) mobility scooters, and (2) tricycles.

lord callanan: Provision of cycling infrastructure, including segregated cycle lanes, is the responsibility of local traffic authorities. It is for them to decide whether or not to permit mobility scooters to use such lanes. Tricycles are already able to use cycle lanes. The definition of a pedal cycle is given in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 as ‘a unicycle, bicycle, tricycle or cycle having four or more wheels, not being in any case mechanically propelled.

*No heading*

lord marlesford: Her Majesty's Government since what date one lane of the A130 trunk road between the A12 and the A14 has been cordoned off and closed to traffic; what work is proposed to be carried out before it can be reopened; and when they expect it to be reopened.

lord callanan: The section of the A130 road between the A12 and A13 is entirely a matter for Essex County Council, as local highway authority, who have a Design, Build, Finance & Operate contract for this section of the A130 carriageway.

*No heading*

lord trefgarne: Her Majesty's Government what are their plans for the regulation of UK civil aviation following Brexit.

lord callanan: The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including future arrangements for the regulation of civil aviation. The Repeal Bill, introduced into the House of Commons on 13 July, will convert EU law as it stands at the moment of Exit into domestic law before we leave the EU. Until the UK leaves the EU, EU law continues to apply alongside national rules. The Department for Transport is working closely with the sector to best understand its requirements.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Lord Prior of Brampton on 11 July (HL Deb) on Good work: the Taylor review of modern working practices, why no reference was made to zero-hours contracts; what consideration they are giving to increasing the level of employment rights protections afforded to workers employed under such contracts towards the level afforded to full-time workers, or the self-employed; and whether they intend to introduce a right to weekly guaranteed minimum paid hours.

lord prior of brampton: The oral statement referred to was to bring to the notice of the House the publication of the independent Matthew Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices. Zero hours contracts are just one example of a working practice in the UK labour market and Matthew in his review has considered the labour market as a whole. I refer the noble Lord to the full transcript of the statement where zero hours contracts are discussed. This Government will give the report the careful consideration it deserves and will respond in full later this year.



Extract from Official Report
(PDF Document, 770.49 KB)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to prioritise the prevention of atrocity crimes in the execution of British foreign policy at the UN and elsewhere; and what arrangements they have in place to ensure that this is prioritised by UK representatives in the work of the Security Council, together with advocacy of the responsibility to protect.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The British Government is a strong supporter of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and is committed to the prevention of atrocity crimes; through the UN system, bilaterally and also through other multilateral fora. The UK continues to prioritise this work in the Security Council: supporting debates, briefings from the Special Advisors on Genocide Prevention and R2P, and campaigning for swift effective action where the risk of mass atrocities exists. As the majority of atrocity crimes happen in and around conflict, our continued efforts in the Security Council to maintain peace and security ensure our representatives retain focus on these important issues.

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that arms control is emphasised within, and integrated into, their security strategy.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review presented to Parliament in 2015 set out the UK's commitment to countering the proliferation of illicit arms and weapons of mass destruction, while ensuring the right conditions for legitimate arms trade. Arms control remains an important element in our strategy, ranging from our support for the Arms Trade Treaty to our efforts in the UN Security Council to tackle North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government when they will publish a timeline establishing a date by when crown dependencies and UK overseas territories must have introduced the same standards on transparency in public registers on beneficial ownership as apply in the UK; and what arrangements they are making to ensure that those standards are enforced.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Government has made clear that if public registers were to become the new global standard, then we would expect the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to follow suit.In the meantime, it is right to focus our efforts on ensuring that the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies deliver on what they have promised.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the arrangement under discussion between the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, to make Mohammed Dahlan the leader of the government in Gaza, and sopartiallylift the closure on the Strip by Egypt and Israel.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of media reports that suggest some coordination between Hamas and Egypt in order to tackle the ongoing electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip. We are clear that there needs to be a long-term solution to the situation in Gaza, which results in the Palestinian Authority resuming control and restoring effective and accountable governance for the benefit of the Gazan people.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the new Hamas Charter of 1 May 2017,in particular paragraphs 16 and 17.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We are aware Hamas has released a policy document. Our position on Hamas remains clear, they must renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements. Hamas must make credible movement towards these conditions, which remain the benchmark against which its intentions should be judged. We call on those in the region with influence over Hamas to encourage Hamas to take these steps.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel concerning their suggestion that a seaportbe built inGaza.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have not had any discussions with the Government of Israel on this issue.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with thegovernment of Israelregarding the impact of availability of stocks of the drug Fentanyl on performance of surgical operations in Gaza.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We have not had any discussions with the Government of Israel on this issue.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for International Development

*No heading*

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the freedom of information response issued by the Department for International Development (DfID) on 13 March which stated that “Our aid … to millions of people across the Middle East … is carefully tracked and monitored”, what form that tracking and monitoring takes; what evidence they have to demonstrate its success; and what percentage of people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds receive that aid.

lord bates: In countries with live conflicts such as Iraq, Syria and Yemen it is especially difficult for DFID to operate and monitor delivery. In these countries, DFID finances partners that have experience of delivering successfully and in conformity with international humanitarian principles in conflict environments. In addition, in Syria and Yemen (where HMG staff are unable to travel), we have contracted independent monitoring agencies to provide objective evidence of programme delivery.DFID's results in the Middle East include helping 3.6 million people in Syria to sustainably access clean water and sanitation and 182 thousand children in Syria to gain a decent education. In Iraq DFID has helped 42,000 people access emergency life-saving medical care and provided safe drinking water for more than 200,000 people. In Yemen 1.1 million women, adolescent girls and children under five have been reached through nutrition related interventions.DFID’s partners do not identify or record beneficiaries by their religious affiliation or ethnicity.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to support those living in Gaza who have been deprived of electricity and of phone and internet access.

lord bates: The UK is working closely with the United Nations (UN) to monitor the situation in Gaza. We urge all the parties to find a sustainable solution to the current energy situation that is affecting services such as electricity and phone and internet access. In Gaza, the UK is funding basic service delivery through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, enabling reconstruction work, and investing in job creation.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking concerning the reported delays in ambulance response times to treat injured and sick Palestinians.

lord bates: Ambulance and permit delays can lead to missed appointments and interrupted treatments, endangering the health and lives of patients. The UK has consistently called on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions that reduce access to medical care for Palestinians. The UK supports essential health services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through funding to the Palestinian Authority and UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking concerning the reported confiscation and destruction of EU-funded humanitarian aid projects in the West Bank.

lord bates: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our serious concern at the increase in demolitions and confiscations in Area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The European Union (EU) has not to date asked for compensation for EU-funded infrastructure. No decision has been made yet as to whether to claim compensation in the future.

*No heading*

lord jones of cheltenham: Her Majesty's Government when they expect a regular air service will begin to and from St Helena.

lord bates: The St Helena Government are undertaking a tender process for a regular commercial air service to and from St Helena. On 9 June, the St Helena Government announced that SA Airlink had been chosen as the preferred bidder for the provision of the scheduled service. A formal announcement on details of the service will be made once contract negotiations are complete.

*No heading*

marquess of lothian: Her Majesty's Government wht action they are tkaing to ensure that all refugee policy contains direct refugee input, in line with commitments made by the UN General Assembly in September 2016.

lord bates: The New York Declaration adopted at the 2016 UN General Assembly committed to include refugees themselves in the process of delivering a new Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF).The UK is working closely with UNHCR – the UN agency responsible for initiating and developing the CRRF – to fulfil this commitment. UNHCR reiterated its commitment to this approach in its report last month, and highlighted that it has set up a CRRF Task Team to “…establish new partnerships (including) with host communities and refugees”.In addition, the UK welcomed the inclusion of direct refugee input in the first thematic discussion towards agreement of a new Global Refugee Compact on 10 July. We support further such input in future events.More generally, in line with the Grand Bargain agreed at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul last year, the UK is pushing a number of UN agencies, including UNHCR, to better communicate with and seek feedback from affected populations – including refugees.

Department for Education

*No heading*

lord ouseley: Her Majesty's Government how, and when, they intend to honour the pledge in the Queen's Speech "to make progress to tackle discrimination against people on the basis of their race, faith, gender, disability or sexual orientation".

lord nash: We are already working to deliver the commitments on equalities made in the Queen’s Speech, including bringing forward legislation to protect the victims of domestic violence and abuse, making further progress to tackle pay gaps, reforming mental health legislation and strengthening enforcement of the Equality Act 2010. We will announce our detailed plans and intended timetables in due course.

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to celebrate the centenary of the passing of the Representation of the People Act 1918.

lord nash: The Chancellor announced at the Budget in March this year that the Government would be providing £5m funding for projects to celebrate the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act. It extended voting rights to women for the first time.We want the fund to support projects that will bring to life for a younger generation the hard-fought suffrage campaign, raise awareness of how democracy works and the contemporary struggles of under-represented groups, and encourage more women to participate in political and public life at all levels.

Ministry of Defence

*No heading*

lord touhig: Her Majesty's Government when they intend to bring forward proposals to introduce enhanced compensation for injured armed forces personnel as outlined their 2017 Manifesto.

earl howe: We will look to bring these proposals forward in due course.

*No heading*

lord campbell of pittenweem: Her Majesty's Government what progressthey havemade on the programme for the modernisation of the Warrior infantry combat vehicle; what factors have contributed to its delay; and when it will be completed.

earl howe: The Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme is currently in its demonstration phase. Eleven demonstration vehicles are currently being manufactured and will then undergo a rigorous trials programme, culminating in live 'firing on the move'. The complex nature of the programme has led to significant engineering and technical challenges. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is engaged in discussions with Lockheed Martin and any decisions will be subject to the MOD approvals process.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

*No heading*

lord birt: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to legislate to prohibit farmers from placing (1) bulls, and (2) cows with calves, in fields traversed by a public footpath.

lord gardiner of kimble: Section 59 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 bans bulls of seven recognised dairy breeds (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) that are over the age of ten months, in all circumstances, from being at large in fields crossed by public rights of way.Bulls of all other breeds (again over the age of ten months) are also banned from fields crossed by public rights of way unless accompanied by cows or heifers. There are no specific prohibitions on the keeping of cattle other than bulls aged over ten months.

*No heading*

lord fearn: Her Majesty's Government how many sea defence areas have been established during the last 10 years in North-West England; and where eachsuch areais located.

lord gardiner of kimble: The following schemes, resulting in improved protection from flooding and/or erosion for over 20,000 properties, have been, or are currently being, undertaken since 2007 in the North West of England:   ItemDefencesLocationDate1Morecambe coast protection scheme phases five and sixLancashire20072Crane Wharf tidal river defencesChester20073Thornton-Cleveleys phases two and three coast protection schemeWyre20084Hesketh Outmarsh WestLancashire20085Lower Lancaster tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme phases one and twoLancaster20096Stanah) sea defence improvementsPoulton-le-Fylde, Wyre20097West Kirby coast protection schemeWirral20098Cleveleys sea defence improvement works phase fourWyre20109River Wyre embankment stabilisation worksFleetwood, Wyre201010Cleveleys groyne worksWyre201011Blackpool Central Area SchemeBlackpool201112Cleveleys beach recharge worksWyre201113Dubb Mill Point highway coast protection worksAllonby, Cumbria201114Eskmeals highway coast protection worksCumbria201215Hightown dune restoration worksSefton201216Teal Bay shingle management (groyne) worksMorecambe Lancashire201317River Mersey Warrington tidal flood risk management scheme phase 1Cheshire201318Sunderland Point coast protection worksLancashire201319Whitehaven Harbour emergency worksCumbria201420West Shore Park coast protection schemeBarrow201421Knott End sea defence replacementWyre201422Starr Hills sand dune managementBlackpool201623Anchorsholme coast protection schemeBlackpool201624Hesketh Outmarsh East managed realignmentLancashire201625Rossall coast protection and sea defence scheme phases one and two of threeLancashire201826Morcambe sea defence improvement worksLancashire2019   In addition, there are dune restoration programmes on the Fylde Peninsula and the Sefton coast.

*No heading*

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: Her Majesty's Government what is the membership of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme transition group; whether the minutes of its meetings are publicly available; and what plans they have considered to increase the quantity of seasonal workers working in the UK agricultural industry.

lord gardiner of kimble: The membership of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) Transition Working Group comprises agricultural and horticultural growers, industry bodies, operators of the former SAWS scheme, labour providers and relevant government departments and bodies. Additional participants are invited to attend meetings according to the issues on the agenda. A note of the meeting is circulated to attendees but is not currently published.The SAWS Transition Working Group discussed the supply of seasonal labour working in the UK agricultural industry for the 2017 season at its last meeting in March this year. The supply of seasonal labour will be discussed further at the next working group meeting.

*No heading*

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the latest evidence that the UK bee population is decreasing; and what steps they are planning to reverse this trend.

lord gardiner of kimble: In 2014, we published independent research on the status of pollinators in the UK. The study identified an overall decline in wild bee diversity over the last 50 years. We are taking action to enhance the evidence base for future assessments. In collaboration with research institutes and volunteer organisations we have established a pollinator monitoring and research partnership to collect new data and improve our understanding of the status of pollinators and pollination services in the UK. Based on the work of this partnership, we will plan shortly to publish updated trend estimates for a range of bees and hoverflies in our biodiversity indicators. We have also introduced a new Pollinator and Wildlife Package to our Countryside Stewardship Scheme in England and are working with farmers, business and conservation organisations to provide pollinator habitat on farmland, in urban areas and in gardens in order to boost pollinator populations.

*No heading*

baroness mcintosh of pickering: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the state of the dairy sector in England.

lord gardiner of kimble: The dairy sector in England is recovering after 2 years of low prices caused largely by global factors. The UK average farm-gate milk price for May 2017 is 26.78 pence per litre, which is 31% higher than the same month in 2016, but a little lower than in March and April. Production in May of 1322 million litres is around the same level as last year.

*No heading*

baroness mcintosh of pickering: Her Majesty's Government when the Rural Payments Agency will pay the outstanding amounts due to farmers for 2015; and what is the average length of time taken from submission of a claim to a payment being made by that agency.

lord gardiner of kimble: As at close of business on 17 July, 99.9% of customers have received their full Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2015 payment. There are 60 farmers still to receive their payment, 58 of which are currently held for legal reasons (such as probate), and 2 still need to be processed. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) continues to focus on the completion of those outstanding and dealing with any new queries on BPS 2015 claims raised by farmers. The RPA does not hold information on the average time taken to process a claim. However, for the 2016 year, 90% of farmers were paid within 4 weeks of the payment window opening.

*No heading*

lord taylor of warwick: Her Majesty's Government how they plan to maintain the UK's current food supplies level after Brexit, in the light of the findings of the studyA food Brexit: time to get real that the EU is providing 31 per cent of the UK's food supply.

lord gardiner of kimble: The potential issues for food supply following EU exit that are raised in the report “A Food Brexit: time to get real” are being addressed through a number of Bills outlined in the Queen’s Speech. These include an Agricultural Bill, a Fisheries Bill, an EU Repeal Bill, a Trade Bill and a Customs Bill. Analysis to inform the development of our legislative programme in preparation for leaving the EU is well underway.

Home Office

Asylum

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 13 June (HL Deb, col 1004), what new information they have about the fate of the 10,000 unaccompanied refugee children who, according to Interpol, have gone missing; and how many unaccompanied refugee children have arrived in the UK to date.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government what has been the average time taken over the past 12 months to make a payment of section 95 (1) subsistence and accommodation support, and (2) subsistence only support, from initial application.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government to what timescales they aim to ensure that a destitute asylum seeker who successfully applies for section 95 (1) subsistence and accommodation support, and (2) subsistence only support, receives that support following their initial application.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government what has been the average time taken over the past 12 months to make a payment of section 95 (1) subsistence and accommodation support, and (2) subsistence only support, from initial application.

baroness williams of trafford: I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave Lord Beecham on 20 July 2017 (HL801, HL802, HL803, HL804).

*No heading*

lord rosser: Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 4 July (HL Deb, col 789) stating that immigration removal centre providers must make a minimum number of opportunities available for detainees to participate voluntarily in paid activity, whether the contracts with those providers establish the rate of pay for detainees; if so, what is that rate of pay; and whether it is contractually permitted for the work undertaken by detainees to replace that which would otherwise be undertaken by contract staff.

baroness williams of trafford: Rule 17 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 permits detainees to engage in paid activities while in detention and is provided as a means to occupy detainees and alleviate boredom. In accordance with Rule 17, pay rates are determined by the Secretary of State for the Home Department. The currently approved rates of pay are £1 per hour and, for specified projects, £1.25 per hour, as set out in the published Detention Services Order 1/2013 ‘Paid Work’. It is not permitted contractually for private service providers to use the detainee paid work scheme to replace staffing obligations. An internal review of the rate of pay for detainees is underway.

*No heading*

lord scriven: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the recent report by Refugee Action, Slipping through the cracks - How Britain's asylum support system fails the most vulnerable, on the performance of the Home Office in finding emergency accommodation for homeless and destitute asylum seekers.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office has discussed the report with Refugee Action and will continue this dialogue as we examine the detailed findings. We take complaints about performance failures seriously and we have robust procedures in place to inspect, investigate and resolve issues when specific information is received. Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs. If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that EU nationals living in the UK are not discriminated against,for example in respect ofletting arrangements and employment, (1) during the Brexit negotiating period, and (2) following Brexit.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has set out its intention in its published document “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU” to issue residence documentation to EU citizens who will be granted settled status on the basis of their residence in the UK. The Government will set out its plans in due course for redesigning the immigration system to introduce controls on future migration to the UK by EU citizens, including any plans for adjusting statutory checks by employers, landlords and other service providers.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the responsibilities imposed on landlords, employers and others to check individuals' immigration statuses, what guidance they will issue to enable those responsible for such checks to differentiate between (1) EU citizens who are entitled to settled status following Brexit, and (2) those who are not entitled to such status.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has set out its intention in its published document “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU” to issue residence documentation to EU nationals who will be granted indefinite leave to remain on the basis of their residence in the UK. The Government will set out its plans in due course for redesigning the immigration system to introduce controls on future migration to the UK by EU citizens, including any plans for adjusting statutory checks by employers, landlords and other service providers.

*No heading*

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take in response to the Independent Monitoring Board's Charter Flights Annual Report 2016; when they will respond to, and implement, the recommendations directed to them; and what action they will take to remedy the failings identified on the part of the Escort Contractor.

baroness williams of trafford: Independent scrutiny is a vital part of assurance that our charter operations are safe, secure and humane. We are pleased that the report found that returnees are generally treated fairly. The recommendations are currently being considered and the government will be writing to the Independent Monitoring Board with a response to the recommendations, which include actions for the escorting contractor.

*No heading*

lord mccoll of dulwich: Her Majesty's Government, for each local authority in England, how many children referred to the National Referral Mechanism for victims of modern slavery in each year since 2010 have gone missing; and of those, how many have not been found.

baroness williams of trafford: The National Referral Mechanism does not collect data on children referred into the system who subsequently go missing. Information on children who go missing is held locally by local authorities and police forces.

*No heading*

lord mccoll of dulwich: Her Majesty's Government which seven charities have been granted funding from the Child Trafficking Protection Fund; and how many of those charities work with children in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland, (4) Northern Ireland, (5) other EU countries, and (6) the rest of the world.

baroness williams of trafford: On 16 January, the Home Secretary awarded £2.2m from the Child Trafficking Protection Fund (CTPF) to seven organisations to protect children in the UK and overseas who are at risk of trafficking. The CTPF funds a range of proposals in the UK and Vietnam.The successful organisations were: AFRUCA, Barnardo’s, Coram Children’s Legal Centre, Church of England Children’s Society, ECPAT UK, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and UNSEEN UK. Of these charities, all seven provide services in England, five in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, three in other EU countries, and four in other parts of the world.

*No heading*

lord mccoll of dulwich: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department on 8 September 2016 (HC44784), whether training on modern slavery has now been put in place for all persons appointed as independent advocates for looked-after children; and by whom such training is provided.

baroness williams of trafford: My department has funded a new training programme for existing Independent Advocates to improve their awareness and understanding of the specific needs of trafficked children and how to support them. Face-to-face awareness sessions were delivered in a range of locations across the country by Barnardo’s in March. An e-learning package has been procured from ECPAT UK and Virtual College and is now available online to all Independent Advocates for children and young people.

*No heading*

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government whether the denial of citizenship to illegitimate children born abroad before 1 July 2006 to British Overseas Territories fathers was discussed as part of either the main agenda or in side meetings during the recent Overseas Joint Ministerial Council meetings, held between 12 and 14 July; if so, what was the outcome of those discussions; and if not, what plans they have, in conjunction with those territories, to move this matter forward.

baroness williams of trafford: This issue was not discussed at the Joint Ministerial Council. This matter is still under review.

*No heading*

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government to what timescales they aim to ensure that a destitute asylum seeker who successfully applies for section 95 (1) subsistence and accommodation support, and (2) subsistence only support, receives that support following their initial application.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government to what timescales they aim to ensure that a destitute asylum seeker who successfully applies for section 95 (1) subsistence and accommodation support, and (2) subsistence only support, receives that support following their initial application.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government what has been the average time taken over the past 12 months to make a payment of section 95 (1) subsistence and accommodation support, and (2) subsistence only support, from initial application.

baroness lister of burtersett: Her Majesty's Government what has been the average time taken over the past 12 months to make a payment of section 95 (1) subsistence and accommodation support, and (2) subsistence only support, from initial application.

baroness williams of trafford: I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave Lord Beecham on 20 July 2017 (HL801, HL802, HL803, HL804).

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government whether they will grant discretionary leave to remain to persons who should move from the UK but are unable to do so through no fault of their own.

baroness williams of trafford: Those who have no right to remain in the UK are expected to leave voluntarily and should take all reasonable steps to do so. If they do not leave voluntarily we will seek to enforce their removal. There is provision to grant discretionary leave to remain where someone has been unable to leave through no fault of their own and there is no prospect of enforced removal.

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government which family tracing services they are using to assist UK residents to find their missing relatives and dependants.

baroness williams of trafford: Requests for assistance with family tracing from UK residents are directed to the British Red Cross which provides a family tracing service to restore family links between family members separated as a result of war and conflict, natural or man-made disasters, or migration. All asylum seekers are also notified of this service when they claim asylum. In addition, when it is deemed to be in a child’s best interests, the UK government endeavours to trace the families of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

*No heading*

baroness jolly: Her Majesty's Government what is the budget for the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority for 2017–18; how many staff it expects to employ in 2017–18; and how many staff it employed in each of the last five years.

baroness williams of trafford: The budget for the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) for 2017/18 is published in the Supply Estimates and comprises £6,090,000 Resource and £680,000 Capital. The GLAA expects to employ an average of 107 full time equivalent staff during 2017/18. The average number of full time equivalent staff employed by the GLAA and its predecessor, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, in each of the last five years is set out in the table: Average Full Time Equivalent Staff by financial year ActualActualActualActualActual2012/132013/142014/152015/162016/176665666672

*No heading*

marquess of lothian: Her Majesty's Government, since the refreshed approach to the Home Office's ending gang and youth violence programme was announced in January 2016, how levels of gang and serious youth violence, including knife crime, have changed.

baroness williams of trafford: Violent crime recorded by the police, including knife crime has been increasing since 2014. Most of the recorded increase is thought to be due to improvements in police recording of crime following a critical HMIC report in 2014. However, some recent increases in knife crime in some areas of the country are thought to be real increases. The Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation programme launched in January 2016 has built on the work of the previous Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme. It has had a particular focus on tacking county lines and the associated abuse and violence. This includes a programme of local reviews to build resilience in areas to gang related violence and exploitation. We have just announced an extended programme of reviews and support for 2017/18.

*No heading*

lord marlesford: Her Majesty's Government how many citizens of other countries have been given British citizenship in each of the last 10 years.

baroness williams of trafford: Information on the numbers of grants of British citizenship is published in Citizenship table cz_01 in the Home Office’s ‘Immigration Statistics, January - March 2016’, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/615149/citizenship-jan-mar-2017-tables.ods The information is summarised is this table: British citizenship grants, 2007 to 2016YearGrant Decisions2007164,6372008129,3772009203,7892010195,0942011177,9342012194,3702013208,0952014125,7542015118,1092016149,421

Refugees: Children

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government, further to the repeating of an answer to an Urgent Question by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 19 July, whether they plan to increase (1) the number of families with vulnerable children to be resettled in the UK from the Middle East under the Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme; and (2) the number of vulnerable unaccompanied refugee children already in Europe with existing close relatives in the UK whom they will resettle in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: Under the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (VCRS), we will resettle up to 3,000 vulnerable children and their families up to the year 2020. The figures for the VCRS will be published in the usual way, and will feature in future releases of the Home Office’s immigration quarterly statistics. The Dublin Regulation establishes which EU Member State has responsibility for assessing an individual’s asylum claim. Under Article 8 of the Regulation, another EU Member State can raise a Take Charge Request where a child has a family member legally present in the UK and where transfer to the UK is in the child’s best interests. For transfers under Article 8.2 there is the additional requirement that the relative – a grandparent or adult aunt or uncle – is able to take care of the child. We will transfer children where a Take Charge Request is raised and who meet these requirements to the UK for their asylum claim to be assessed here. This is an ongoing commitment and no number is associated with it.

HM Treasury

*No heading*

lord birt: Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that (1) the precise spot rate, and (2) the commission charged, are identified for all consumer foreign currency transactions at the moment of the transaction.

lord bates: The Payment Services Regulations 2017 (which implement the second Payment Services Directive, PSDII) were laid in Parliament 19 July 2017 and will apply from 13 January 2018. Under these regulations, as is currently the case under the first Payment Services Directive, providers of international money transfer services are required to show any fees incurred (such as commission or flat fee) and the exchange rate the provider is offering the customer. As PSDII is a maximum harmonising Directive, the Government is not able to go beyond these explicit requirements (e.g. requiring the spot rate to be identified at the moment of the transaction).

*No heading*

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the decision to introduce the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, whether they will review their decision in 2015 not to impose a levy on tobacco products; and if not, why not.

lord bates: The government has no current plans to review the decision not to introduce a tobacco levy. A levy would complicate the tax system, impose an administrative burden on businesses and HMRC and would create uncertainty for businesses and consumers. The government remains committed to its objectives on tobacco policy; to raise revenue and protect public health. Budget 2017 increased tobacco duty rates by 2% above RPI inflation. In addition, a Minimum Excise Tax of £5.37 on a pack of 20 cigarettes was introduced on 20 May 2017, alongside standardised packaging and the new Tobacco Products Directive.

*No heading*

lord wigley: Her Majesty's Government how much funding has been (1) committed to, and (2) expended on the Cardiff and Swansea city-regions, and what level of expenditure is anticipated for these projects in this financial year.

lord bates: The UK government has committed to providing £500m over twenty years for the Cardiff City Deal, with funding matched by the Welsh Government. We have also committed £155m over fifteen years for the Swansea City Deal, with the Welsh Government providing £125m. For the Cardiff City Deal, at Budget 2016, the UK government added £10m in RDEL to the Welsh Government’s block grant in each of 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20. The annual commitment is anticipated to rise. The spending is ring-fenced with the Welsh Government’s budget and it is for the Welsh Government to account for this expenditure. Funding for the Swansea City Deal is expected to commence in 2018-19.

*No heading*

lord flight: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the stamp duty levy on investment in new homes available for rent.

lord bates: The Government introduced the higher rates of stamp duty on additional properties to support home ownership and first-time buyers. It is right that people should be free to purchase a second home or invest in a buy-to-let property, but the Government is aware that this can impact on other people’s ability to get on to the property ladder. The latest estimate for this measure’s receipts for 2016-17 is £1.6 billion, compared to an initial forecast of £0.7 billion.

Pay

baroness neville-rolfe: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of comparative public and private sector pay, including the value of pensions, for the years for which this information is available.

lord bates: Analysis conducted by HM Treasury shows that on average, when including employer pension contributions, there is a premium of about 10%. Details can be found in the table below: YearTotal Pay and Employer Pension Contributions – Differential between Public and Private Sector (%)20058.3920067.9720077.5420088.8200911.8201014.73201112.78201211.88201311.6520149.33201510.4220169.12 Technical notes to the table:This analysis was conducted by HM Treasury based on data from the ONS’s Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and compares public and private sector earnings when including employer pension contributions. The differential obtained shows the percentage hourly compensation from working in the public sector above that of the private sector after accounting for differences in composition between the two. To factor in these compositional differences, the analysis accounts for differences in age, gender, job type (full- or part-time, permanent or temporary), occupation category, region, and tenure.

Department for Exiting the European Union

*No heading*

baroness hodgson of abinger: Her Majesty's Government how, and when, civil society will be consulted with regard to Brexit.

baroness anelay of st johns: Ministers and officials from the Department for Exiting the EU and across Government have engaged with civil society organisations to understand their views and to ensure that their expertise contributes to our negotiating position. We have met a range of organisations, including trade unions, charities, faith groups, academia and consumer bodies.With the negotiations underway, we will continue to engage widely and intensively. We will reach a successful outcome by drawing on the expertise of these groups, understanding their perspectives and working with them to test and validate positions as we prepare to leave the European Union.

*No heading*

lord kinnock: Her Majesty's Government what arrangements have been made to ensure detailed analysis and discussion across government departmentsof the impact of departure from the EU single market on specific sectors and regions of the UK economy.

baroness anelay of st johns: The whole of Government is preparing for the UK to make an orderly and successful exit from the European Union. Cross-government governance arrangements are coordinating efforts across Whitehall. The Prime Minister established and chairs a Cabinet Committee on European Union Exit and Trade to oversee the UK’s exit at Cabinet level. The Committee meets regularly. Since the triggering of Article 50, two new subcommittees, chaired by the Prime Minister, have been established. One will oversee the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from and new relationship with the EU, and the second will focus on issues relating to the UK’s future trading arrangements with non-European countries. At official level, the cross-government EU Exit Analysis Board provides oversight and direction to analytical work related to EU exit, including sectoral and regional analysis, being undertaken across Whitehall. The Department for Exiting the European Union, working with officials across government, continues to undertake a wide range of analysis to support our negotiations, covering the entirety of the UK economy.

*No heading*

lord kinnock: Her Majesty's Government whether House of Lords ministers in theDepartment for Exiting the European Union will be provided with all cabinet papers that are relevant to their role and necessary for the proper discharge of their duties.

baroness anelay of st johns: The entire Ministerial team of the Department for Exiting the European Union work closely together, and with Ministers across Government, in order to deliver successful withdrawal from the European Union. This includes work across several Cabinet Committees.

*No heading*

lord teverson: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to integrate their negotiations with Euratom to withdraw from the Euratom Treaty with their Brexit negotiations; and if so, how.

baroness anelay of st johns: As set out in the Prime Minister’s letter to Donald Tusk triggering Article 50, the UK will withdraw from the Euratom Treaty when it leaves the EU. We look forward to discussing Euratom, along with a range of other issues, in the upcoming negotiations. On 13 July, the UK published our position paper on nuclear material and safeguards issues, and will be working through these issues in next week’s negotiating round.

*No heading*

lord teverson: Her Majesty's Government whetherthey intend to negotiate transitional arrangements fortheir withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Government has been clear that the UK supports Euratom and wants to see continuity of cooperation and standards on nuclear issues.The Government has also been clear that we want to maintain a close working relationship with the Euratom Community - specifically we see mutual benefits in working together on Research & Design (R&D) and regulatory issues.The exact arrangements will be a matter for negotiations.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the offer to UK citizens livingin otherEU member states made by the EU on 22 May, why the Prime Minister made a separate, and different, offer to EU citizens living in the UK on 22 June; whether they intend to negotiate to bring those two offers into line; and if so, how.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Prime Minister has always been clear that our first priority is to reach agreement on the post-exit position of EU citizens now living in the UK and of UK nationals and living in other EU countries. The UK’s offer on citizens rights is set out in the policy paper “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU” and seeks to ensure that EU citizens in the UK retain their rights to residence, benefits and pensions, and access to services, including healthcare and education. It makes clear that the UK expects reciprocity for UK nationals living in the EU in return for its offer which we believe is a fair and serious one.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the Prime Minister's offer made on 22 June concerning EU citizens living in the UK, in particular the statement that the UK courts would have jurisdiction over the enforcement of those rights, how they intend to ensure that those individual rights will be enforced; whether they intend to legislate to ensure thatEuropeanCourt of Justice (ECJ)judgments relating to citizenship rights following Brexit will be enforceable in the UK courts; whether, and if so how, they intend to ensure that decisions of theUK courts and ECJin this area do not diverge in terms of their interpretation of the relevant agreements; and whether those matters will form part of the Article 50 withdrawal agreement.

baroness anelay of st johns: The agreement on Citizens Right will be enshrined in UK law and enforceable through the UK judicial system, up to and including the Supreme Court. We are also ready to make commitments in the Withdrawal Agreement which will have the status of international law. We are committed to a rules-based international order and the UK takes its responsibilities signed up to via international agreements seriously.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government whether they have given any consideration to the creation of a new supra-national dispute resolution mechanism relating to the enforcement of the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the the EU following Brexit.

baroness anelay of st johns: We recognise that the large majority of ​international agreements involve some form of dispute resolution or enforcement mechanism​ and there are a range of models for dispute resolution mechanisms in international agreements. ​We have been clear that we will bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom. The dispute resolution mechanisms adopted as part of our future relationship with the EU will be a matter for negotiation.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to negotiate an agreement relating to the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU following Brexit separately to other aspects of the Brexit negotiations; and if so, whether they intend for that agreement to come into force in the event that an overall withdrawal agreement is notreached by March 2019.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Prime Minister has been clear that we want to have reached an agreement about our future partnership, which includes citizens rights, by the time the two-year Article 50 process has ended in March 2019. The rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU following exit is of importance to both sides, and we are sure it can be agreed in the time period set out by the Treaty.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Network and Information Security Agency.

lord ashton of hyde: Membership of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) is one of the ways in which the UK discusses cyber security policy and shares expertise with European partners. In 2016, ENISA received €10.1m of central funding from the EU budget. The UK contributes to the budget as a whole, not to individual projects or agencies.

*No heading*

lord storey: Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of independent television production companies in the UK; and how many of them are not owned by another broadcasting company.

lord ashton of hyde: There are ​currently have 488 ​independent ​TV production companies registered with Pact .​ Of these 401 are fee paying members – the other 87 are subsidiaries ​and 8 are owned by broadcasters, so around 393 are not owned by another broadcasting company.​

*No heading*

lord storey: Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of local television companies in the UK.

lord ashton of hyde: There are currently 29 local television companies currently licenced by Ofcom.